Soffit support

ABSTRACT

The support structure for a soffit which comprises a first member having a central vertical section with a support element extending outwardly from a lower portion thereof and the retaining structure located proximate an upper end of the central vertical section, a second member having a central section adapted to lie adjacent the central section of the first member with the second member having engaging means located at a lower portion thereof designed to engage the support element of the first member and the second member having a second portion extending upwardly and outwardly to abut a soffit, the arrangement being such that the second member central section is retained between the retaining structure of the first member and the support element of the first member. This provides an arrangement wherein the soffit is supported without any outwardly visible attaching beams.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an improved facia and soffit structurefor buildings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The facia is that part of a building where the roof terminates.Typically, most residences and relatively small commercial or industrialestablishments utilize a sloping roof. The roof structure includes aplurality of rafters upon which a solid material such as plywood or thelike is placed. Subsequently, a weatherproofing component is applied ontop thereof, the weatherproofing component typically being asphalt tilesalthough metal, shakes, other types of tiles, and composite materialshave all been known to be utilised.

At the point where the rafters terminate, a facia is installed andextends along the ends of the rafters. Typically, the facia may comprisea wooden member and/or a metal member secured to the rafter ends.Typically, the metal member has a L-shaped configuration which extendsalong the facia and inwardly towards the soffit portion of the eaves.

A soffit structure is generally utilized to provide ventilation to theair space under the roof. Typically, the soffit will comprise a piece ofmetal or plastic having apertures therein to permit the passage of airinto the air space. A second outlet such as a roof vent is provided toencourage the flow of air therethrough.

The arrangement of the facia and soffit has essentially not changed formany years. The facia will usually comprise a wooden strip nailed alongthe ends of the rafters and this is then covered by a metal or plasticfacia member. However, it is also known to only use the metal or plasticfacia.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a support member fora soffit and also to provide an integrated facia and soffit structure.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided asupport structure for a soffit, the support structure comprising a firstmember having a central vertical section, a support element extendingoutwardly from a lower portion of the central vertical section, aretaining structure located proximate an upper portion of the centralvertical section, a second member having a second member central sectionadapted to lie adjacent the central section of the first member, thesecond member having engaging means located at a lower portion of saidcentral section, the engaging means being designed to engage the supportelement of the first member, the second member having a second portionextending upwardly and outwardly to abut a soffit, the arrangement beingsuch that the second member central section is retained between theretaining structure of the first member and the support element of thefirst member.

The first member of the soffit support structure is designed to besecured to a substrate and to retain and support the second member whichin turn supports the soffit. As such, the first member will have asection which is designed to lie adjacent to a vertical structure suchas the building wall and will also have a section which is designed tolie underneath the soffit.

The first member, in order to fulfill its function as a means ofsecuring and retaining the second member, has to ensure that the secondmember remains securely retained in position, preferably without the useof any fastening members.

To this end, the first member may be secured either through the verticalportion to an adjacent wall or alternatively along the horizontalportion to the underside of the roof structure. If desired, the firstmember could be secured to both of the structures. The means forfastening the first member may include all the conventional methodsincluding the use of mechanical fastening members, adhesives, etc.

The second member has a first section which is designed to be secured toand retained by the first member, and a second section which is designedto support the soffit.

The first section is designed to be retained by and secured to the firstmember and preferably is retained by means of a slight compressionthereof. To this end, the first section of the second member has itsupper and lower portions engaged by the first member. Conveniently, thisis accomplished by engaging means located at a lower portion of thefirst section and which engaging means seat on the lower support elementof the first member while an upper portion is retained within a channelformed at an upper portion of the vertical section of the first member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made tothe accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the support structure for a soffit inconjunction with a facia system;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of the first member of the supportstructure;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view thereof;

FIG. 5 is a side-sectional view of the second member of the soffitsupport; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference charactersthereto, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a facia support system generallydesignated by reference numeral 10 and which facia support system isdescribed in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 10/780,192, thedisclosure which is hereby incorporated by reference. Associated withfacia support system 10 is a soffit structure 12 which is shown anddescribed in co-pending patent application Ser. No. 10/780,193, theteachings of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

The soffit support of the present invention includes a first membergenerally designated by reference numeral 14. First member 14 has avertical wall section 16 which, at its upper end, terminates in an upperbight 18. Extending downwardly from upper bight 18 is a second verticalsection 20 which likewise terminates in a lower bight 22. As may be seenin FIG. 3, a channel 17 is thus formed between sections 16 and 20.Channel 17 has an inwardly tapered configuration.

From lower bight 22, first member 14 has an upwardly extending section24 which terminates in a horizontal section 26.

As may be best seen in FIG. 3, at the lower end of vertical wall section16, there is provided a flange 28 for reasons which will become apparenthereinbelow.

A second member of the soffit support is generally designated byreference numeral 30 and includes a second member central section 32having an upper bight 34. As may be best seen in FIG. 5, tabs 36 areformed within central section 32 and extend rearwardly thereof.

At the lower end of central section 32, there is provided an arcuatesection generally designated by reference numeral 38 and which in turncontinues as a diagonally extending side wall generally designated byreference numeral 40. Side wall 40 terminates in a horizontal section 42which in turn continues as an inwardly turned horizontal section 46through bight 44.

In use, first member 14 is suitably secured to a structure either by ameans of vertical section 16 or horizontal section 26 by suitable means(not shown). Subsequently, central section 32 of second member 30 isinserted in channel 17 with tabs 36 resting on flange 28. Naturally,flange 28 could be angled upwardly to better engage tabs 36. The sizingis such that the top of central section 32 is frictionally engagedwithin channel 17 and securely held thereby. A downwardly extendingpressure is put on tabs 36.

In so doing, soffit 12 is then supported by the horizontal sections 42and 46.

It will be understood that the above described embodiment is forpurposes of illustration only and that changes and modifications may bemade thereto without departing from spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A support structure for a soffit, said support structure comprisinig:a first member having a central vertical section, a support elementextending outwardly from a lower portion of said central verticalsection, a retaining structure located proximate an upper portion ofsaid central vertical section; a second member having a second membercentral section adapted to lie adjacent said central section of saidfirst member, said second member having engaging means located at alower portion of said central section, said engaging means beingdesigned to engage said support element of said first member, saidsecond member having a second portion extending upwardly and outwardlyto abut a soffit; the arrangement being such that said second membercentral section is retained between said retaining structure of saidfirst member and said support element of said first member.
 2. Thesupport structure of claim 1 wherein said support element comprises anoutwardly directed flange, said vertical section of said second memberhaving a plurality of projections extending outwardly towards said firstmember, the arrangement being such that said projections rest on saidoutwardly directed flange.
 3. The support structure of claim 1 whereinsaid first member and said second member are formed from metallic sheetmaterial.
 4. The support structure of claim 3 wherein said metallicsheet material is selected from the group consisting of aluminum andaluminum alloys.
 5. The support structure of claim 1 wherein saidretaining means first member has a U-shaped channel sized tofrictionally receive and engage said planar portion of said secondmember.